Persephassa is a piece for six percussionists composed by Iannis Xenakis in 1969.[1] The piece was commissioned jointly by the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF) and the Shiraz Arts Festival (presided by the queen consort of Persia, Farah Pahlavi), held at the historic site of Persepolis.[2] The title is one of the variant names of the goddess Persephone / Proserpina, and also refers to the names "Perseus", "Perceval", and "Persepolis".[3] It was performed in its premiere by Les Percussions de Strasbourg (France)[4] for whom it was written.[5]